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closure

evermore (2020)

“closure” is the fourteenth track on Taylor’s ninth album, evermore (2020). It is a wild industrial-folk number with Nine Inch Nails-style drums in which the narrator lays into an ex who can’t stand the idea that she’s still mad at him.

Background and Lyrical Theme

The song is possibly about Taylor’s history with Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta. The pair was under intense scrutiny after refusing to let Taylor own her own the rights to her first six major studio albums. In her Apple Music Awards 2020 interview, Taylor noted that closure is one of the overarching themes on the album:

«evermore deals a lot in endings of all sorts, shapes, and sizes, all the kinds of ways we can end a relationship, a friendship, something toxic, and the pain that goes along with that.»

Taylor Swift

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Taylor confirmed that other songs like “my tears ricochet” and “mad woman” were inspired by her former Big Machine label boss Scott Borchetta and music industry bigwig Scooter Braun. “I found myself being very triggered by any stories, movies, or narratives revolving around divorce,” she said, while acknowledging that she had not experienced a marriage dissolution firsthand.

Production

“closure” is mostly written in 5/4 time, an untraditional meter that helps to convey a more dissonant feeling. In the song, there are parts where Taylor’s vocals are filtered through the Messina, which is a vocal modifier that Justin Vernon uses a lot in his work with Bon Iver. Vernon was deeply involved in this album, even more so than folklore (2020).

Live Performance

“closure” received its first live performance acoustically on guitar in Zurich on July 10, 2024, during one of Taylor’s shows on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024), almost four years after its release. She played it as part of a mashup with “A Perfectly Good Heart” (2006). Introducing the song, she said:

«Sometimes, it’s very rare, but sometimes at this point in the tour, there is still a song that I have not ever played live. That is the case with what I’m about to play! Wish me luck.»

Taylor Swift

Commercial Performance

All of the tracks on evermore debuted inside the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously; “closure” peaked at No. 82.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
It’s been a long time
And seeing the shape of your name
Still spells out pain
It wasn’t right
The way it all went down
Looks like you know that now

[Chorus]
Yes, I got your letter
Yes, I’m doing better
It cut deep to know ya
Right to the bone
Yes, I got your letter
Yes, I’m doing better
I know that it’s over
I don’t need your “closure”
Your “closure”

[Verse 2]
Don’t treat me like some situation that needs to be handled
I’m fine with my spite, and my tears, and my beers, and my candles
I can feel you smoothing me over

[Chorus]
Yes, I got your letter
Yes, I’m doing bettеr
It cut deep to know ya
Right to the bone
Yes, I got your lеtter
Yes, I’m doing better
I know that it’s over
I don’t need your “closure”
Your “closure”
Your “closure”
Your “closure”

[Bridge]
I know I’m just a wrinkle in your new life
Staying “friends” would iron it out so nice
Guilty, guilty reaching out across the sea
That you put between you and me
But it’s fake and it’s oh so unnecessary